High accuracy of mesoscopic epi-fluorescence tomography for non-invasive quantitative volume determination of fluorescent protein-expressing tumours in mice

Objectives

To compare mesoscopic epi-fluorescence tomography (MEFT) and EPRI-illumination reflectance imaging (EPRI) for quantitative tumour size assessment in mice.

Methods

Tumour xenografts of green/red fluorescent protein (GFP/RFP)-expressing colon cancer cells were measured using MEFT, EPRI, ultrasound (US) and micro computed tomography (μCT) at day 14 post-injection (n?=?6). Results from MEFT and EPRI were correlated with each other and with US and μCT (reference methods). Tumour volumes were measured ex vivo by GFP and RFP fluorescence imaging on cryoslices and compared with the in vivo measurements.

Results

High correlation and congruency were observed between MEFT, US and μCT (MEFT/US: GFP: r ²?=?0.96; RFP: r ²?=?0.97, both P?r ²?=?0.93; RFP: r ²?=?0.90; both P?r ²?=?0.96; RFP: r ²?=?0.99; both P?P?r ²?=?0.95; RFP: r ²?=?0.94; both P?r ²?=?0.86; RFP: r ²?=?0.86; both P?Conclusions Fluorescence distribution reconstruction using MEFT affords highly accurate three-dimensional (3D) tumour volume data showing superior accuracy compared to EPRI. Thus, MEFT is a very suitable technique for quantitatively assessing fluorescence distribution in superficial tumours at high spatial resolution.

Key Points

? Mesoscopic epi-fluorescence tomography (MEFT) is an important new molecular imaging technique. ? MEFT allows accurate size determination of superficial tumours with high resolution. ? MEFT is a suitable technique for longitudinal assessment of tumour growth. ? MEFT allows 3D reconstruction and quantification of fluorescence distributions.     

The relation of Dietary diversity score and food insecurity to metabolic syndrome features and glucose level among pre-diabetes subjects

Introduction

Prediabetes is considered as an increased risk factor for cardiovascular disease and overt diabetes and is the precursor stage of diabetes. Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) is recognized as an essential factor of a high-quality diet. However, diets with more varieties of food items might increase calorie intake and body weight. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the association of DDS with metabolic syndrome features in adults with prediabetes.

Interference of tobacco smoke with immunochromatography assay for urinary drug detection

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the interference of tobacco smoke on immunochromatography assay of urinary drug detection.MethodsOur study included 256 voluntary subjects (143 passive smokers and 113 current smokers). Cotinine was measured by immunoenzymatic method and thiocyanates (SCN^?) by selective electrode. Urinary drug was detected by immunochromatography assay. A positive result is completed by an analytical method with an immunometric assay.ResultsFalse positive results for benzodiazepines are significantly more frequent in smokers compared with passive smokers (90.2% Vs 22.4%; χ² = 116.62, p < 10^?3). For smokers, the number of cigarettes was significantly higher in subjects with falsely positive results for benzodiazepines compared with subjects with negative results (32 ± 11 Vs 20 ± 10; p = 0.04). Between these two groups, we established a significant difference for urinary cotinine (345 ± 211 Vs 117 ± 54 μg/μmol; p < 10^?3) and for plasma SCN^? (101.6 ± 3.4 Vs 98.8 ± 2.1 μmol/L; p = 10^?3). Urinary cotinine and consumption duration present the highest values of areas under curves (AUC) of the receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves. The cut-off of 167.6 μg/μmol and 10.5 years were found as predictive factors of false positive results.ConclusionTobacco smoke interferes with immunochromatography assay of urinary drug detection; therefore, all subjects must be questioned about their smoking status to avoid such false results during results interpretation.     

Is it necessary to place a double j catheter after laparoscopic ureterolithotomy? A four-year experience

Abstract Purpose: To assess the necessity of placing a ureteral stent after transperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (TPLU). Patients and Methods: In the period from May 2006 to November 2010, 46 patients underwent TPLU. There were 13 females and 33 males. All patients had an impacted stone larger than 1.5?cm in the upper and middle parts of the ureter. TPLU was performed as either a primary therapy or as a salvage therapy in patients in whom another treatment had failed. The exclusion criteria were pregnancy, a body mass index more than 35, and patients with abnormal results on coagulative tests. In all cases, after removing the stone, the ureter was sutured. In the first 23 patients, no ureteral catheter was placed, but in the second 23 patients, a Double J catheter was inserted through the ureter. Results: In one case, the stone was pushed back. The stone-free rate was 97.8%. There were four cases of prolonged urinary leakage after the surgery. All of them were in the group in whose members the Double J catheter had not been placed. The problem was resolved in one patient spontaneously after 4 days, but for the other three patients, a Double J catheter was placed and the leakage was stopped in 24 hours. There was no case of urinary leakage in the second group of patients with a placed Double J catheter. Conclusion: Placing a Double J catheter during surgery does not increase the time of operation and may play a role in prevention of urinary extravasation after laparoscopic ureterolithotomy.     

Emergence of VIM-2 and IMP-15 Carbapenemases and Inactivation of oprD Gene in Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates from Lebanon

We report here the emergence of VIM-2 and IMP-15 carbapenemases in a series of clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Lebanon. We also describe the disruption of the oprD gene by either mutations or insertion sequence (IS) elements ISPa1328 and ISPre2 isoform. Our study reemphasizes a rapid dissemination of the VIM-2 carbapenemase-encoding gene in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in the Mediterranean basin.